Nazareth mayor Carl Strye Jr. surrendered himself Tuesday at District Judge John Capobianco's office to face a felony theft charge stemming from more than $8,000 stolen at the borough firehouse's social club.

Strye, 53, of the 700 block of Seip Avenue, is accused of pocketing more than $8,000 in cash garnered from games of small chance and illegal poker at the Vigilance Hose Co.'s social hall.

Strye was charged following an investigation that began on Nov. 3, 2014. The Northampton County District Attorney's Office then had received a complaint that Strye was allegedly stealing the money from the nonprofit social club, 48 South Cedar St.

Authorities said the money was specifically missing from "games of small chance and poker machines" and not any other fundraisers or donations. The income being generated from the games wasn't matching what had been recorded by Strye, records said.

Strye served as president of the Vigilance Hose Co. from 1987 to 2013. During his tenure, authorities said Strye was the only person to have full access to all the money collected from gambling, authorities said.

In 2014, Troy Keenhold, a firefighter, took over as the new president of the Vigilance Hose Co. Keenhold's brother, Daniel Keenhold, is the current fire chief of Vigilance Hose Co.

Strye allegedly handed over to Troy Keenhold a box of $20,000 in cash and claimed that was the amount collected from past games of chance and the poker machines.

Troy Keenhold believed more cash should have been in the box considering there had been more than 27 years of gambling going on at the social club, the affidavit of probable cause stated.

Authorities seized the records from the games of chance, which indicated Strye misrepresented the total amount of money received and allegedly falsified the ledger. This was done by Strye so he could keep a small amount of cash for himself on each small game of chance, authorities said.

Strye on Jan. 21 allegedly admitted to falsifying the records and keeping the cash for himself before the Northampton County Grand Jury.

Strye was arraigned before Capobianco on the theft charge. The judge set bail at $10,000 unsecured.

Dressed in a black fleece sweatshirt, black jeans and black shoes, Strye didn't say anything in the courtroom. He was in good spirits prior to the arraignment, saying he didn't know what the charges entailed.

Present in the courtroom was Troy Keenhold, as well former Nazareth borough police officers Frederick Lahovski and Adam Shimer. Both have sued the borough and Strye during past legal battles. Strye oversees the police department.

The judge ordered Strye enroll in Pretrial Services and stay away from the Vigilance Hose Co. Strye is due back in court tentatively at May 3 for a preliminary hearing.

The Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement cited Vigilance Hose Co. for sale on Aug. 17 of alcoholic beverages to nonmembers; possession or operation of gambling devices or permitting gambling, lotteries, poolselling or bookmaking on Oct. 27, 2014, and Jan. 14 and 21, 2015; failure to keep records between June 3, 2014, and June 3, 2015, as required under the Liquor Code; and fortification, adulteration or contamination of liquor on May 23.